My Overall Impression (Score of 86%)

I love that I review teas from all over so I’m able to see a variety of products.  This one again was purchased on a whim, and it seems like I need to keep this up.  This is another great tea that’s simplistic yet highly structured.  What I’m referring to is that the flavor of the tea is bold smoked malt which runs over the entire profile (simplistic).  Add the complex body, sweetness and moderate tannin allows for a great cup of tea.

The price as of 8/21/23 is $11 for 100 grams.

Broken down:

• 100 gm / 3 gm for steeping = 33 cups
• 33 cups from package = app 33 cents per cup

Typically, I double steep all my teas (use the tea twice) so I can get 66 cups or approximately 17 cents per cup.  There is no reason why you should not have this tea in your stash!!!  For 17 cents, you have a tea that can stand up to beef or enjoy on its own.  It’s so worth the value!!!

Aromas

• Opening the package, you are greeted by intense aromas of smoky malt in the bag.
• This is followed by notes of toffee, hay, toast compost and vanilla. This is straight malt, no fruit or herbal qualities noted.
• Once brewed, the smoked malt dominates the profile. However, there is a creamy essence to it that is quite pleasing.
• Once brewed, it shows hints of citrus, vanilla, toffee, caramel, and cocoa powder. It reminded me of a Cadbury chocolate bar I used to have when I was young.

Flavors

• Great depth of malt with a touch of smoke over the profile.
• This is a flat curve, meaning that there is not a great deal of nuances to this brew.
• However, this reminds me of other great teas that I’ve consumed, and it’s filled with strong character with a hint of sweetness and cocoa powder.
• It shows a creamy mouthfeel, that’s slightly off dry and great body / weight to the brew. It also has that umami tone that’s hard to describe but the brew feels complete (even with its simplicity).

Scores

• Aromas (4.2/5)
• Flavors (8.6/10)
• Overall impression (4.4/5)
  • Total score = 86 percent (17.2/20)

Foods to Pair and Why

• First of all, I love to drink this strong brew on its own. I love the structure and its relaxing qualities.  Typically, I will sip on a cup of tea over a 10-15 min period.  This one, I’m drinking at a faster rate as it’s so inviting.
• Due to its depth, I would love to pair this with a grilled ribeye with nothing, but Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper cooked medium. The body, flavor, acidity, sweetness, and aromas would really match with this tea.
• Last weekend at an event, I met a married couple who just started Mushroom farming. Their Oyster Mushrooms were fantastic, and I’d love to sauté some of these with cremini, in butter, fresh thyme and a splash of soy at the end.
• I’m starting to think of Fall braises with either pork or beef, fall vegetables and mushrooms. I love risotto and heavy Italian Pasta dishes with smoked meats as the base.